Unlikely Dodger Catchers - 1983 version

Those that remember 1983 will likely remember that Jack Fimple became something of a folk hero, an unlikely call-up that filled in for an injured Steve Yeager down the stretch drive of a pennant race.  Before Fimple appeared in his first game, the Dodgers trailed the Braves in the West by 5 games, but they passed Atlanta one month later and eventually led by as much as 5.5 games before winning the division by 3 games.

Fimple appeared in 54 games - 48 starts, all from July 31on - and had 167 PAs, putting up a line of:
.250  /    .300  /    .358  /    .658,    83 OPS+
(Last year, a Dodger 83 OPS+ would be around a .670 OPS.  Russell Martin's .680 was an 86 OPS+.)

If A. J. Ellis is the Opening Day catcher, catches the majority of the games until Martin is ready to return, rather than "Old Testament" Brad Ausmus, and is somewhere around an 83 OPS+ at the plate, will he be a folk hero, or will people be calling for the 41-year old catcher to play every day or for a rash and unrealistic trade for a backstop?

Jack Fimple also wore a pretty nifty number for a catcher.

(Photo courtesy of checkoutmycards.com)